State Police probing ex-GOP voting chief

By Paul Nelson

Published 10:35 pm, Friday, August 14, 2015

Schenectady

The State Police are looking into allegations that Republican Board of Elections Commissioner Arthur Brassard Jr., who resigned abruptly earlier this month, may have illegally altered designating petitions of the GOP county chairman after the election documents were turned in and stamped with the time and date.

"We are conducting an investigation at the request of the (Schenectady County) District Attorney's Office," said Kristin Lowman with the State Police.

Though she declined Friday to provide details, citing the ongoing criminal probe, it appears to revolve around one or more revisions Brassard may have made to petitions filed on the afternoon of June 9 by County Legislator Jim Buhrmaster at the county Board of Elections, according to individuals with knowledge of the probe.

Those individuals, who requested anonymity because of the active investigation, said that in one instance Brassard improperly wrote the number 10 on the last page of the petition, which is required, after it had been submitted and stamped with the time and date.

As part of criminal probe, investigators could examine video footage captured by surveillance cameras inside the board office that was obtained by the Times Union. There is no audio.

Brassard, who according to the state records has nearly 38 years of service in a series of public jobs, could face at least one felony offense and a variety of misdemeanors.

District Attorney Robert Carney, a Democrat, did not return a call seeking comment Friday.

County Attorney Chris Gardner, also a Democrat, confirmed the State Police probe but refused to comment further.

On Friday, Buhrmaster, who represents District 3 on the majority-Democrat County Legislature and also serves as the county Republic chairman, did not return a call seeking comment. District 3 includes Glenville, Niskayuna and Scotia.

During a conversation earlier this month on the matter, he denied any wrongdoing, said Brassard wasn't returning his phone calls and dismissed the accusations against Brassard as a "political stunt" by his Democratic counterpart, Joe Landry.

"Joe Landry wants to embarrass the Republican Party because I'm the chair and I'm running this year," said Buhrmaster, adding that he lost the Conservative line because of the alleged changes to his petitions "I will be furious if I get dragged into this."

Landry has called for both Buhrmaster and Brassard to step down.

"I find it deeply disturbing that the Republican Board of Elections commissioner criminally altered a petition after it was filed – right in front of the Republican party chairman," Landry said in a statement last month. "These illegal actions call into question each and every designating petition filed by the Republicans on behalf of all Republican candidates."

During that earlier interview, Buhrmaster also recalled getting a phone call asking him to return to the election office on July 10, the day after he turned in his petitions, to sign an addendum, although he didn't understand why.

Referring to Brassard, Buhrmaster had said: "If something was done, maybe he should retire."

In a one-sentence letter dated July 24, addressed to Buhrmaster and County Clerk John Woodward, Brassard said he is resigning, effective Aug. 3, the same date his retirement took effect, according to state records. He gave no reason for his departure.

GOP Attorney Michael Cuevas, who said Friday he represented Brassard, in his "employment matter."